Chance finishes 21st at State XC Meet

Tuesday

Nov 6, 2012 at 7:22 PMNov 6, 2012 at 7:24 PM

It wasn’t the finish Oak Ridge senior Leah Chance wanted in the Class AAA State Championship Cross Country Meet, but after seeing just where she stood, it was a great way to end her Lady Wildcats career.

Robert Holder

It wasn’t the finish Oak Ridge senior Leah Chance wanted in the Class AAA State Championship Cross Country Meet, but after seeing just where she stood, it was a great way to end her Lady Wildcats career.

Chance, a week after finishing fifth at the Region II Meet, finished 21st (20:39.90) in the state and third among the racers from her region.

“I looked at the facts — that I put everything out there, listened to my coaches, ran a smart race, and moved up to third for our region — in this race,” Chance said. “I can’t be unhappy with that. I am very proud of the race I had today and my season.”

Coach Allen Etheridge said it was a great race considering the conditions at Percey Warner Park in Nashville on Saturday. Temperatures climbed to near 80 degrees at the start of the race, and he offered Chance the advice that allowed her to get through the race.

“(Coach) Ed (Roberts) and I really emphasized to Leah that she run conservatively for the first mile-plus because we’ve seen what this course does to kids on sunny days many times — they get out too hard and wobble home, or worse.

“It altered the dynamic of the race considerably, especially the team race, since several of the girls who fell apart were leaders of teams that were in the hunt for the win.”

After the first mile, Chance was about in 31st but turned on the jets and mowed down 10 harriers.

“I’m really excited to have qualified for the state meet my senior year and that my friends, team-mates, coaches and family all came to support me for it,” Chance said. “My coaches have really believed in me so much this season and have helped me so much. I am so grateful to have them as my coaches, and I will miss them.”

Coach Etheridge added, “She had a great season —ran No. 1 for us at every race, was All-Region, broke 20 minutes five times, and will run in college.

“She did all of this herself. Once she decided she was ready to be good, she took the initiative to do the work, lead the runs, run as hard as she could in the races.”

Ravenwood won the team title. Nicole Gardner of Murfreesboro Siegel won the individual title in a time of 18:44.13.